OGC-99-19: Published: Nov 27, 1998. Publicly Released: Nov 27, 1998.

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Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) new rule on migratory bird hunting and late seasons and bag and possession limits for certain migratory game birds. GAO noted that: (1) the rule would revise the rule published on September 29, 1998, to extend the season dates for the state of Mississippi, while reducing the maximum season length from 60 to 51 days; (2) inasmuch as the legislation also permitted any other state in the Mississippi Flyway to extend the closing dates, the regulation would also extend the date for Alabama and Tennessee; (3) the other states in the Flyway, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana, declined to participate in the framework extension; and (3) FWS complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.